Extensible ski pole



Dec. 3l, 1957 M. N. HARocoPo 2,818,290

ExTENsIBLE sx1 POLE Filed Sept. 27, 1955 INVENTOR MR/N0 V. HHOOPO ATTORNEYS Unitecl States Patent iice EXTENSIBLE SKI POLE Marino N. Harocopo, Washington, D. C. Application September 27, 1955, Serial No. 536,855 2 Claims. (Cl. 287-58) This invention relates to an extensible ski pole and more particularly to a ski pole formed of telescoping members having novel locking means arranged therein for ready lengthwise adjustment in a stepwise manner.

The lengthwise adjustable ski poles previous'ly known have used screw friction adjusting means `exerting either internal or external friction on the telescoping members. Under conditions of actual use such adjusting means could slip in a dangerous manner, or freeze so as to become extremely difficult if not impossible of adjustment.

It is the principal object of this invention lto provide a lengthwise adjustable ski pole having stepwise adjustment and locking means disposed within the pole and Isimply and manually operable under all conditions of use by manipulation of an outwardly engageable member.

A specific object of this invention resides in the provision of an extensible ski pole embodying adjusting and positive locking means comprising an elongated perforated locking member and a selectively cooperable locking pin mounted on one part of the pole for retractible movement to accommodate sliding movement of the elongated locking member.

These and other objects and advantages of this inven- -tion will be more fully understood from the following detailed description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side perspective View of a ski pole;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section showing details of the adjusting and locking means;

Fig. 3 is a similar longitudinal section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a further cross-section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of a second embodiment showing details of the adjusting and locking means; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-section taken along line 7--7 of Fig. 6 showing details of the locking means.

In the drawing a tapered ski pole 10 is shown as 'having an upper and outer tubular segment 12 receiving an inner and lower tubular segment 14 terminating in a sharp metal end point 16 of conventional for-m. The tubular members or segments 12 and 14 may be formed of rust resistant steel or aluminum, or from a synthetic plastic material of requisite chemical and physical properties. One example of a suitable plastic material is of polyvinyl composition and is `sold under the trademame Geon by B. F. Goodrich Co.

A conventional snow ring 18 secured on the lower end portion of tubular lmember 14, and a head or cap 20 with a hand 'loop or strap 22 mounted on tubular member 12 complete the general assembly of the ski pole 10.

Tshe cap 20 and hand loop 22 may be of the integral rubber or other plastic construction disclosed in M. N. Harocopo Patent No. 2,614,859.

Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 show the members 12 and 14 of an internal association with tubular elongated locking mem- 2,818,290 Patented Dec. 3l, 1957 ber `24 providing one element of the adjustable locking means. yI-t will be noted that member 24 is half round in cross-section so that the round portion will conform closely to the inside curvature of the outer tubular member 12. The lower end of member 24 has an inwardly shouldered offset portion 26 adapted to lit down into the inner ltubular member 14. This offset portion 26 and a similarly shaped and facing insert 28 form a solid closure or plug for the upper end of tubular member 14 into which they have a complemental fit. Insert 28 and otset portion 26 have bores 30 aligned with corresponding openings 32 in the tubular member 14 for receiving a plurality of lengthwise spaced retaining pins 34. These pins pass through the holes 32 in the opposite portions of tubular member 14 to firmly secure the elongated locking member 24 thereto.

A semi-cylindrical element 38 is secured to the upper portion 36 of member 24 by means of a pin 40 to form a plug serving to slidably position and guide the upper end of the locking member 24 within the outer tubular member 12. The portion of the elongated locking member 24 intermediate its ends has a plurality of vertically spaced holes 41 extending therethrough. The spacing of Ithe holes 41 determines the neness of the lengthwise adjustability of the ski pole.

A retractible locking pin 42 extends into the outer tubular member 12 through a hole 44 therein. This locking pin 42 has an eniarged head portion 48 with a pin 50 extending inwardly therefrom. This pin has a circular recessed portion 52 approximately midway its length. The length of the pin end portion 54 extending beyond the recess 52 is slightly less than the effective depth of holes 41. This is best shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

A longitudinally curved leaf spring 56 having a centrally formed aperture 58 of conventional threadless fastener type is longitudinally disposed within the outer tubular member 12 with its concave face toward the hole 44 in said tubular member. The aperture 58 of spring 56 is passed over locking pin 50 so that the edge elements of the aperture 58 may lit into recess 52 in pin 50 so as yieldingly to retain said pin in the inwardly extended position with end portion 54 fitting within a hole or bore formation 41 in locking member 24. The leaf spring 56 is so assembled that its ends engage the inner curved .surface of the outer tubular member 12. Actually the spring ends are curved transversely so that they will conform to the configuration of the inner face of the member 12. This assures adequate and even support for the spring 56. tThe central portion of the convex face 60 of the spring will contact the face 25 (Fig. 4) of member 24 A(Fig. 5) so as substantially to prevent rotation of member 24 within the outer tubular member 12. If desired a crosspin 62 passing through opposite wall portions of the outer tubular member 12 may be `used to prevent rotation of elongated member 24.

In use, the locking pin 42 is pulled outwardly against the pressure of spring 56 so that the pin 50 will be completely withdrawn from the locking member hole 41. With the pin in such position the tubular imembers 12 and 14 may be telescopically adjusted to the desired length and the nearest hol-e 41 aligned with the locking pin 42 which will then be released to enter the hole under the force of spring 56. The ski pole is thus locked in a selected lengthwise adjustment.

vIt `should be noted that the pin 50 extends substantially all the way through the selected bore 41. The strength and rigidity of this construction makes it unnecessary to extend the end of pin 50 through an opening in the outer tubular member 12 diametrically opposite hole 44 as would otherwise be required for additional support. The elimination of such an opening in the outer ltubular member 12 makes for a much smoother and neater appearing ski pole.

A second embodiment of this adjustable ski pole is shown in Pigs. 6 and 7. This embodiment comprises an einer tubniar member 80 corresponding to outer member 12. of Ithe trst embodiment and an inner tubular member 8.2 which corresponds to inner member 14. The inner tubnia'r member 82 is siidable wihin the outer tubuiar member $9 and has an outside diameter closely approximating the inner diameter of the outer tubular member so that there is very iittie -play or looseness between these parts. An integral extension of the inner tubular membe! is pressed inwardly to form a concave wall section 83 to produce a locking member 84 having a cross-section generally smi-cylindrical, as indicated in Fig. 7. "This locking member :has a plurality of vertically spaced holes 86 extending therethrough. The spacing of these holes det/:mines the -ti-neness of the lengthwise adjustability of the ski pole,

A retractible lock-ing pin 88 extends into the outer tubular member 80 through a hole 90 therein. This locking pin has an enlarged head .portion 92 with a pin 94 extending inwardly therefrom. This pin has a circular recessed portion 95 intermediate its length. The length of the pin end portion 96 extending beyond the recess 95 is not less than the distance between the walls having registering hoies 86 in the locking member 84 so that this pin portion will effectively engage the periphery of both holes 86, as indicated by Figs. 6 and v7.

A iongitudinally curved wire spring 98 having a central fastening portion 100 and outwardly extending curved arfms 102, 104 is lengthwise disposed within the outer tubular member 80 with its concave face toward the hole 90 in tubular member 80 as indicated in Fig. 6. The central fastening portion 100 of the spring ts in locking pin recess 95 and acts to secure the spring to the flocking pin `94. The outer end portions of the spring arms 10'2 and 104 bear against the inner face of the wall of 'the outer tubular member to resiliently urge the locking pin 94 nto locking position with the pin end portion 96 in engagement with the ,periphery of the holes 86.

The operation of the second embodiment is identical with that of .the first embodiment. In addition a pin or other suitable means similar to pin 62 in the first embodiment may be used to maintain the inner tubular member 82 in proper alignment with outer tubular member '80.

The ski pole of this invention oifers a number of important advantages. It affords an extensible ski pole .that is simpie to adjust in flength according to the height of the user and has a positive locking means so constructed that under no conditions short of destruction of the pole will the adjustment vary. The adjusting means has a plurality of steps to assure that it has a maximum range of adjustment, is readily operable without tools, and is so constructed as to be free from freezing in a position of adjustment vand require kpractically no maintenance.

Tir

While two preferred embodiments of the ski pole of this invention has been disclosed in detail, it is to be understood that modications and rearrangements can be made therein without departing from the inventive principles and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as novel and desire `to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. An extensible ski poie comprising an outer ltubular member; an inner tubular member telescoped for relative sliding movement within said outer tubular member and having a longitudinal sec-tion of its wall depressed inwardly and formed with a Iplurality of longitudinally spaced, 'transversely aligned pairs of bores extending through said depressed section and the opposite wall of the inner tubular member; a retractible locking pin extending through the wall of the outer tubular member and slidable into any selected transversely aligned pair of bores of the elongated inner tubular member to hold said inner elongated tubular member against longitudinai movement relative to the outer tubular member; and spring means disposed wholly within the outer tubular member, extended around the locking pin and secured to said locking pin between the depressed section of the inner tubular member and the inner surface of the outer tubular member to maintain said locking pin yieldably within a selected pair of said transversely aligned bores.

2. An extensible ski pole comprising an outer tubular member; an inner tubular member telescoped for relative sliding movement within said outer tubular member and having a :longitudinal section of its wall depressed inwardly and formed with a plurality of longitudinally spaced, transversely aligned pairs of bores extending through said ldepressed section and the opposite wall of the inner tubular member; a retractible locking pin having a spring retaining formation and extending through the wall of vthe outer tubular member and receivable into any lselected transversely aligned .pair of bores of the elongated inner tubular member to hold said inner elongated tubular member against longitudinal movement relative -to the outer tubular member; and spring means disposed wholly within the outer tubular member, and engaged with the spring retaining formation of said locking pin between the depressed section of the inner tubular member and the inner surface of the outer tubular member to maintain said locking pin yieldably within a se` lected pair of said transversely aligned bores, said spring means being a 'longitudinally curved wire spring with a central fastening loop positioned in said spring receiving formation.

.References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

